In Khanty-Mansiysk on Monday, March 6, the XXI International Debut Festival “Spirit of Fire” closed. The film directed by Malika Musaeva, The Cage Is Looking for a Bird, received the Golden Taiga Prize named after Sergei Solovyov as the best Russian debut film, as well as two main prizes – for the best female role and for the best cinematography.
An international jury evaluated the debuts of foreign directors. The “Bronze Taiga” prize was awarded to the film “Early Eyes” directed by Wang Chun-Hung (Taiwan, China). The Silver Taiga Prize went to the film On Both Sides of the Pond by Indian director Partha Saurabha.
At the closing of the festival, the chairman of the international jury, director Pavel Lungin, spoke. He noted that “the deep humanism of the films excited us with the human element.”
The Golden Taiga award for the best foreign debut film went to Parallax by Iranian director Shahram Ebrahimi. According to him, he came to the film director from the theater, where he started as a sound engineer, and then became an actor, and a very successful one, known throughout Iran. But, according to him, at some point he realized that he wanted to connect his life with cinema.
Taking the stage for the award, the Iranian director asked to honor the memory of Sergei Solovyov, the first president of the Spirit of Fire festival.
Following him, the vice-president of the festival, Maria Zvereva, took the stage and said that the current president, Emir Kusturica, who broke his leg and could not fly to Khanty-Mansiysk, asked to present his prize. It was received by actress Anna Mikhalkova.
The director wrote her a letter, which was a big surprise for the actress.
How does he know about my existence? But I am very pleased. I will go home with an excess in luggage, ”Mikhalkova said, receiving the prize.
Earlier, on March 3, it was reported that Russian actor Sergei Garmash received the award “For Contribution to Cinematography” at the “Spirit of Fire” film festival. The award was presented to the artist by the chairman of the international jury, director Pavel Lungin. A similar prize was previously awarded to world stars Christopher Lambert and Fanny Ardant. Lungin, during the award ceremony, noted the talent of the actor, which is rarely seen in other representatives of the profession.
This year the festival “Spirit of Fire” was held from 3 to 6 March in Khanty-Mansiysk. Serbian director Emir Kusturica became the chairman of the jury, but on March 1, the filmmaker was hospitalized with a broken leg, he needed surgery.
